The move to Almita!

Chloe sleeping peacefully in her open crib in the NICU

At 3 weeks of age, both babies were out of their isolettes and stable in an open crib.

Nate was meeting criteria for discharge which meant that he had to be able to gain weight on his own, breast or bottle feeding without the help of the NG tube, he had to have 5 days in a row without apnea or bradycardia and otherwise stable labs, and the sign off of all his specialists. On the day of discharge, he was circumcised, given his 2 month vaccines, given a hearing screen (which was a very stressful event for him), had his heel stuck for his 2nd newborn screen, underwent a car seat trial to determine if he would be able to hold his oxygen sats while in that position and a few other things to round out the day. On the night before discharge, we were given the opportunity as parents to utilize the parent suite for transitioning out of the NICU. This was where we would be in charge of taking over all of his care while in another separate room in the wing of the NICU, so if we had questions or problems, the nurses and doctors would be right there. Needless to say, we did not get any sleep and were exhausted for what was to come!

all packaged up and ready to go!

see the look of fear on our faces...

Nate's first smile when he was leaving the hospital!

Chloe was still suffering tremendously with apnea and bradycardia that was worse with feeding and positioning, so that she was only NG tube fed for a while and would not meet criteria for discharge for a long time. Among a whole list of other preemie complications.

Almita, our temporary home on 79th Street

view from the roof deck at dusk!

My parents' long time family friends rented us their apartment on 79th street in Manhattan, this was Almita. It was lovely and it was big! For Manhattan! We even had a guest room for grandparents!! And a rooftop deck for eating and viewing

This was arranged because the 300 square foot graduate housing first of all would never accommodate all that was going on once the twins were discharged, and frankly, I couldn't stand to be in there another minute after bed rest for so long. There were dust bunnies as big as the twins from lack of cleaning, there was no counter top space for all my pumping equipment that was occurring every 2 hours, and there was no way it was going to accommodate the rest of the stuff that came with them, with changing and feeding and rocking and changing and feeding and.... And then there was the fact that my mother said she would never step foot in there again. Through this whole ordeal, she came for a 2 day visit from Boston and ended up staying over 2 weeks, sleeping on the LOVESEAT in the living room, while traveling by subway every day back and forth to the hospital. I think she had had enough.

Changing Nate's diaper with Aunty Laura

  

  

Nate sleeping right next to Daddy

Burping

Interestingly, Brian's parents were visiting that weekend from Florida, so they got to stay in our lovely guest room and help us with the transition. Laura and Joe were also there to help.

However, Nate was not ready to leave....The next morning as I was showering, to get ready for my trip to the NICU to see Chloe, Nate stopped breathing. Brian carried him into the bedroom floppy and grey. I attempted stimulation and when that wasn't working, started to position him to initiate CPR and he started coughing sluggishly. His entire life flashed before my eyes, as they say in the movies, and the rest of Chloe's life without her twin. Needless to say, I can't think of a worse day in my life, and he was immediately readmitted to the NICU where he spent another 3 weeks side by side with Chloe. He continued to have apnea and bradycardia and after what had happened, I was not ready to take him home again.

Nate at 1 month

Nate saying "hi Mommy" in his sleep

Chloe at 1 month, with a satisfied look in her favorite position, hands across her chest!

Chloe and Mimi

feeding Chloe

Chloe at 5 weeks

Nate feeling satisfied after eating, 5 weeks old

Nate and Mimi

Kangarooing 

Chloe smiling again, 6 weeks

I think she even has a chuckle going on now

Nate at 6 weeks

Our favorite time of the day, Kangarooing the clan!

That's Chloe checking out Nate's head

Now she grabbing his ear and he just thought it was all normal and cool, he had no complaints

Chloe trying to get those hands crossed over her chest.

This is how they would snuggle together under the wrap, just arms and legs all intertwined, so cute.

Mimi visiting again - feeding Nate

Nate is starting to get a chubby little face

So is Chloe - you can see those chubby cheeks at 6 weeks old

Sweet sleeping girl - always like to get her hands out so she can stretch them over her head

So, were getting ready to leave the NICU for a second time, Chloe for her first, and the NICU nurse's felt extremely generous to unhook them from all their machines and monitors, and let them have a little snuggle time. I was able to snap some great shots of this new experience for them! I was also trying to get some cute twin baby feet shots!

I made some phone skins and thank you notes with these little feet pictures!

This was made into a great phone skin for Mimi also

They both have one eye glued on me!

Nate is trying to hold onto Chloe's hand